Analytical process for detecting peroxide-, nitrate-, nitramine-, and nitrotoluene-based explosives

Abstract

An analytical process for detecting compounds in a sample suspected of containing a peroxide-based compound, a nitrate-based compound, a nitrotoluene-based compound, or a nitramine-based compound includes treating the sample with a superbase and then contacting the sample with a composition. The composition includes or consists of a Ni-porphyrin and an acid and optionally an acid stable solvent.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An analytical process for detecting compounds in a sample suspected of containing a peroxide-based compound, a nitrate-based compound, a nitrotoluene-based compound, or a nitramine-based compound, the process comprising treating the sample with a superbase and then contacting the sample with a composition, wherein the composition comprises or consists of a Ni-porphyrin and an acid. 
     
     
       2. The analytical process according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample is suspected to contain a compound that is an explosive. 
     
     
       3. The analytical process according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the peroxide-based compound is one or more than one of the following: triacetone triperoxide (TATP), diacetone diperoxide (DADP), methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP), and/or hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), 
 wherein the nitrate-based compound is potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ), ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ), urea nitrate (NH 2 COHNH 2 +·NO 3   − ), nitroglycerine (NG), ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN), and/or pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), 
 wherein the nitrotoluene-based compound is 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) or 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), and 
 wherein the nitramine-based compound is 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (hexogen, RDX), 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazoctane (octogen, HMX), or 2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethylnitramine (tetryl). 
 
     
     
       4. The analytical process according to  claim 1 , wherein the superbase is an organic superbase. 
     
     
       5. The analytical process according to  claim 1 , wherein the superbase is an organic superbase, and wherein the nitrate-based compound includes organic nitrates. 
     
     
       6. The analytical process according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition contains an acid-stable solvent. 
     
     
       7. The analytical process according to  claim 1 , wherein the acid is not covalently linked to the Ni-porphyrin. 
     
     
       8. The analytical process according  claim 1 , wherein the composition is held by a carrier, wherein the carrier comprises a porous acid-stable material and/or a swelling liquid adsorbing acid-stable material, the carrier forming a supporting material for a liquid composition containing the Ni-porphyrin and the acid. 
     
     
       9. The analytical process according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises or consists of the Ni-porphyrin, the acid and an acid-stable solvent, and the composition is liquid. 
     
     
       10. The analytical process according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein peroxide-based compounds are indicated by the Ni-porphyrin finally generating green color, 
 wherein the nitrate-based compound comprises an inorganic nitrate compound or an organic nitrate compound, 
 wherein the inorganic nitrate compound is indicated by the Ni-porphyrin and a strong acid generating a brown color, and the nitramine-based compound and the organic nitrate compound are indicated by the Ni-porphyrin and the strong acid initially generating green color and subsequently generating brown color. 
 
     
     
       11. The analytical process according to  claim 1 , wherein the acid has a pKa of −2.8 to 1.2. 
     
     
       12. The analytical process according to  claim 11 , wherein the acid is not covalently linked to the Ni-porphyrin. 
     
     
       13. The analytical process according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is held on a carrier that is porous and/or swelling. 
     
     
       14. The analytical process according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises an acid-stable solvent. 
     
     
       15. The analytical process according to  claim 1 , wherein the Ni-porphyrin is substituted in at least one of its meso positions with at least one aryl group, which is substituted with at least one electron-donating group. 
     
     
       16. The analytical process according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition consists of a Ni-porphyrin and a strong acid. 
     
     
       17. An analytical process for detecting compounds in a sample suspected of containing a peroxide-based compound, the process comprising
 separating the sample into portions and contacting one of the portions with a first composition that comprises or consists of a Ni-porphyrin and a strong acid and contacting another portion of the sample with a second composition that comprises or consists of a Ni-porphyrin and a weaker acid, 
 wherein the first composition is used to detect all peroxides, and the second composition is used to detect only hydrogen peroxide. 
 
     
     
       18. The analytical process according to  claim 17 , wherein the Ni-porphyrin of the first composition is present on a porous carrier that is attached to a plastic strip, in combination with a container containing the strong acid as a liquid.